What is an FBM file?
A .FBM file can have several different meanings depending on the software that created it. Most commonly, it is a ship hull design model created by marine engineering software like DELFTship or FREE!ship.
In 3D modeling, .FBM files or folders act as an FBX embedded media file. When software like Blender exports an .FBX model, it extracts texture images (often as .PNG files) into the .FBM structure to keep the 3D model materials intact.
In other cases, a .FBM file is an image. It can be a downloaded picture from Facebook Messenger saved internally as a .JFIF image. Historically, the extension also refers to the Fuzzy Bitmap Image format developed by Michael L. Mauldin.
How to open FBM files?
Because .FBM has multiple possible meanings, we recommend viewer.online/fbm to identify the actual format of your file. viewer.online/fbm analyzes .FBM files to identify their exact format and creator software, shows which programs can open the file, and usually previews it.
If you already know the file type, you can use DELFTship to open marine models, or a standard image viewer like Adobe Photoshop for Messenger images.
Best practices and file conversion
If you need to use the file in other programs, we recommend file conversion to sensible target formats on convert.guru. Ship design models can be converted to .STL or .OBJ for 3D printing and CAD work. If the file is a picture, convert it to a standard .JPG or .PNG format.
Never delete an .FBM folder if it sits next to your .FBX 3D model. Deleting this folder removes the texture links, and your 3D model will appear blank or gray.
Summary
viewer.online/fbm directly opens and previews .FBM files in the browser, eliminating the need to install software or troubleshoot compatibility issues.